Author: krazykree

I know that some of you may wonder why I wrote “The Prodigal Son.” The priest from today’s gospel talked about Easter, of course, and Jesus risen, but he also mentioned of the Prodigal
Son from a few weekends ago, as well.

He talked about how that was one of Jesus’ most powerful stories, that God was willing to forgive us for all our sins…that no matter how much we sin, He will welcome us back. (He also did mention that Jesus dying on the cross was “a zillion times more important” than this gospel, because God did not wait for the repentant sinner to come to him, but already forgave them.)

The fact that the priest talked about the Prodigal Son really hit me because you usually don’t hear about the Prodigal Son on Easter. He talked of the son wasting his inheritance and partying all the time and when he ends up sleeping with the pigs, that the Father welcomed him back and forgave him. This doesn’t mean that you can just go on a sinning spree because you know that if you mean that you’re sorry later, than it’s okay. You may even be committing a mortal sin (which occurs when (1) the sin is of grave/serious matter (2) you know that it is a sin and (3) you commit the sin with full deliberate consent [which means you are committing the sin because you want to not because someone is forcing you…]).

But what really caught me about the Prodigal Son was the “faithful” son that was angry that the Father had accepted his brother back after sinning so much. I think that this is such a great lesson in the Prodigal Son that is often omitted and if it isn’t omitted, it is often skipped in the homily. This jealous son teaches us that as the faithful, we should not be angry at God or our brothers and sisters when God forgives them and welcomes them back to His Home and His heart. We should not be jealous or full of pride (two of the seven deadly sins) and say to God that it’s unfair for Him to welcome them Home.

We should love our brothers and sisters no matter what. When I was younger I asked my parents if there were tiers in Heaven and Hell…like those who sinned more got punished more and those who were more faithful were a “closer” tier to God. I know now that that is impossible, at least in Heaven, because God loves all His children of equal magnitude (but don’t get me wrong, it’s an infinite magnitude) and He wants us to see that we are all equals and should love each other with agape, the infinite love He has for us.

Listen to “You make me smile” by Uncle Kracker (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCLBj7nKPY) which will make this post, and more importantly, your day, so much better. It’s just a great song about people in love…or even best friends and family.

I know that Michael has written a time or two about Twix, but he really does light up our lives. Whenever I am sick he runs to me and curls up with me and his warmth helps make me feel better. I think animals are a lot more keen to our feelings than we humans may even be. If you have a pet, make sure they know that you are grateful for them and that you love them. Like this Mama Panda and her cub – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdfJMZVt7pI.

Even more than your animals, though, don’t forget to love those who love you. I may sometimes drive my parents wild, and not in the good way, but I hope they also know that I wouldn’t be where and who I am today without them. Their love, devotion, and caring for us children and their great faith helped to raise the three of us to be the wonderful, charismatic people we are today. Don’t forget to let others know how you feel.

Need some inspiration? Google: “You make me smile,” and click “images.” These will be a guarantee to make you smile and that person smile. So on this day, Good Friday, don’t only thank Jesus for paying the ultimate sacrifice for us, but thank God for all the wonderful people He put in our lives to let His light shine through them. Thank you, Jesus, for making me smile.

As I reflect on 2012, I think this year has got to be better than my last. I think of the blessings, trials, and tribulations that God gave me last year, most especially the trials and tribulations, and how God has strengthened me.

Living with lupus has taught me that I have to take life piece by piece, and measure what energy I can exert on what. I have learned to appreciate the little things, the little things that make like just a bit easier. For example, my parents have been visiting for a few months and my dad likes to take Twix out in the morning. It’s nice to be able to sleep in and also not have Michael’s work interrupted in the morning because Dad can take out my dog.

It’s even the things we can’t control…like my uncle being our guardian angel and painting the scratches on my car so it wouldn’t rust. How happy he was when he heard that we called him our guardian angel!

It’s the little things in life. If we notice and appreciate the little things in life, it will help make us that much happier to notice the little things we do for one another…and the little things that make us happy. I can still remember my student just coming by with a little chocolate turkey “just because” and that completely making my week.

So remember to help with the little things, and to appreciate the little things…and that will make this year a great year.

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as “Holiday Trees” for the first time this year (2012) which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America . . .

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crib, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren’t allowed to worship God? I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it’s not funny, it’s intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham’s daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her: “How could God let something like this happen?” (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said: “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”

In light of recent events… terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O’Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he’s talking about. And we said okay.

Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with ‘WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.’

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you’re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it…. no one will know you did. But if you discard this thought process, don’t sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

Michael and I went to watch “Wreck it Ralph” last night. It was the first time in a long time that we’ve actually went to the movie theatre together. It’s always nice to be able to get out and just be able to spend time together.

For two gamers like ourselves, it was such a cute movie and very creative. Ultimately, the movie was about bullying and accepting yourself. It reminded us also that by desiring to be on top and being greedy with winning, can destroy you.

Disney and other companies always try to teach people (mainly society’s kids) lessons while entertaining. Shouldn’t that be how we live life? Not necessarily to “teach lessons” but to do good and influence others to do good? That’s what LCBD is about…doing good and influencing others to do good, too! Accepting others with all their fault, all their defects…learning that sometimes their defects are their greatest strengths and help them to truly shine.

What can you do to live your life in a way that is inspiring to others?

I know that that statement to “always be awesome” is a pretty high demand, but I think we should always strive to be awesome. I’ve been thinking a lot about death lately (now don’t think I’m being all dark, I’ve had my reasons) but you should always live each day as if it were your last.

Yesterday, Michael and I talked about how we resolve fighting and that we always try to leave each other in the best attitudes. I never want to be angry and say something and leave to go somewhere and, God forbid, it be the last thing that we say to each other. I know that he will always know that I love him, but that would just be so hard to live with. Not just with Michael, but anyone.

It’s been ten years, almost eleven, since my dear friend, Amy, passed away. The week she passed away, we also lost my Lolo (grandpa), his best friend, and my neighbor, Carmen, who was also like a grandpa to me. That was a rough week, but what was hardest about that week were the things I didn’t do. I saw Amy and was going to go and say “hi” to her before she was headed back to Pepperdine, but I didn’t go right away, thinking I’d be able to say “hi” later, only to find out that was the last chance I would have had to talk to her. Being upset from losing Lolo and Amy already that week, when I saw Carmen next door I had ducked back into the house so I didn’t have to interact with anyone since I was just not in the best mood, I came back not more than five minutes later to an ambulance taking Carmen to the hospital, missing my second “last chance” that week. Since then I’ve always tried to aim to apologize immediately, and even more so just try not to say things I would regret or things that would be the last thing I say to people.

My high school statistics teacher just passed away from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). I found out she had ALS the same week that I was diagnosed with lupus back in May. She was a wonderful teacher, always kind. She really took the time to take care of her students. She spent all her lunches in her classroom tutoring students who were struggling, but also spending time with all the students who just wanted to “hang out” with her. My friends and I had our own designated table in her classroom at lunch. She was a great teacher and will truly be missed. She was certainly someone who was always awesome, and she will be remembered by all as an all-around genuinely wonderful person. I can’t write just how incredibly wonderful a person she was. I don’t think anyone would be able to write all of the wonderful things she has said and done because everything she did was just great. She truly loved her students and it showed, and they loved her because she cared so much. RIP Christy French. We love you.

Ever since I was a little girl I have been ill. Being in the hospital and doctors’ offices and everything in between limited my independence to do things. Whenever I could, I did my best to take care of myself so others did not have to. Of course, my mom and dad were always there to remind me, but I tried to be independent as much as possible. What lupus has taught me is that, unfortunately, I am not super woman and I can’t do everything by myself anymore. I must depend on the help of others, but most especially Michael.

Lupus has truly helped me to better understand the partnership that I have with Michael. Even though we have been together for over six years, we have truly learned and valued being partners in the past year.

Yes, we’ve dealt with “tough stuff” before…very tough stuff. With Michael’s dad passing away, and growing up and getting apartments and moving cross country from each other and starting new jobs…we’ve been through tough stuff. However, with lupus, it is the very first thing we have really had to handle by ourselves.

Of course we have our family and our parents, but we are in town by ourselves learning how to balance work, doctors, and life. It is a big balance and compromise and I have to learn to ask for help and accept it. I have to be humble enough to understand that I am in need of help and all Michael is doing is helping me to be better.

This is like everything: We feel we can always handle anything on our own. We must learn that it is ok to accept help. Accepting help is another way to connect and work together with others. Accepting help is human.

Just over six years ago, the man of my dreams walked into my life and changed it infinitely for the better. Since then he has helped me support my dreams with LCBD and create his own with this website. He is a wonderful and inspirational hard working man who will be the change we see in the world. (Thanks, Ghandi!)

It’s not always easy taking care of yourself. It’s hard to learn how to be “selfish” and learn that taking care of yourself isn’t actually being selfish, but being healthy. I play this everlasting fight with myself about making people happy and taking care of myself. I always bent over backwards to make people happy, and I still do, but I forget that now I am much more limited.

Since lupus has started to consume my life, I have missed five weddings, a family reunion, and my grandma’s 90th birthday. I know that everyone understands and everyone wants me to get better, but it always pangs me that I cannot be with loved ones and that I feel I am letting them down.

My newest medication, an oral chemo, has been really making me ill and my mom asked if my dad could come and be of help. I told her that I’d rather he wait to go with her because it would make me so sad to see my dad sad.

I wish I could hide my illness, it’s not always so invisible, so that others could not have to worry. I wish I could just make it so everyone could be at ease, but I guess in a way, that isn’t taking care of myself if I pretend that it’s not there.

We have to face our fears and conquer them before they consume us. My fear is that my illness will consume me, but with my love one’s support, it will not. I am so thankful that my family and friends help me understand that if I don’t take care of myself, I may never be able to do much of anything, but if I focus right now on my illness, that will help me to heal and help me to get strong again to live my day to day life.